Those of you holding out hope for a DeMarco Murray return to the Cowboys have had a good week. And it got a tad better last night.
As much as Joseph Randle’s arrest for marijuana in Wichita made you cringe, I think it added some leverage to Murray’s negotiations with the team as he prepares to embark on a voyage through free agency. The Cowboys certainly had doubts about potential replacements Randle and Ryan Williams, and Randle's second arrest in four months only intensified them. Given Randle’s horrible decision-making, the Cowboys’ odds of over-paying Murray certainly increased.
Murray also is saying the right things, minimizing the money aspect of free agency and promising the most important thing is winning a Super Bowl. Unless he replaces Marshawn Lynch in Seattle or LeGarrette Blount in New England, his chances of accomplishing that seem pretty swell here at home.
And then there’s the company he’s keeping. Murray is still acting like, well, a Dallas Cowboy.
There he was last night at SMU’s Moody Coliseum attending the Mustangs’ college basketball loss to Cincinnati. In the seats next to him: Head coach Jason Garrett and quarterback Tony Romo.
Murray may change his tune next month when teams begin courting him. He might become infatuated with the cash, forget about winning and turn his back on teammates and friendships. But as of now, he’s still 100-percent Cowboy.
I’m still convinced the Cowboys won’t pay the money - $7 million a year? – it will take to keep Murray. But after this week’s events, the arrow is pointed a little bit back toward Dallas.
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A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
